The familiar epistles of M.T. Cicero Englished and conferred with the: French Italian and other translations

Cicero to Seruius Sulpitius. Epist. 3.

I Daily heare, that you are pensiue; and that, for the publick s••ipwracke, you mourne extreamely. Whereat though I cannot wonder, but confesse, that I likewise, vndergoe the same af∣fliction: neuerthelesse, I both grieue beyond measure, that you being a man endowed with such singular wise••ome, will not rather reioyce at your owne good, then vexe at another mans hurt. And I, though I graunt not, that any man is mo••e grieu'd at heart, then I am, for the lamentable ouerthrow of our Common-wealth: yet now for many reasons I take comfort, especially in calling to minde, that I neuer fail'd to pay vnto my countrie, whatsoeuer was due from a good Cittizen. For long since, as from an eminent and high tower, I discer••'d a far off, the ruine that was comming. And I saw it the

better, becau••e you pointed it out vnto me. For though I was in my Prouince a great part of your Consulship, yet so remote as I was, I knew your opinion about the preuenting this pestiferous warre. Besides I was in Rome, at the beginning of your Consulship, when a discourse falling out, vpon all the ciuill warres, you admonished the Senate, to take heed, by the calamities that were past: and to thinke how much more intollerable those would be, which oppressed the Country in these time••, seeing they had be••ne so cruell, who oppressed it heretofore, hauing thereof no former president or exam∣ple: In that men, doe vsu••lly thinke, that they may in all reason doe, what they haue example for; nay, and to doe wor••e, then their presid••nt allowes. Remember therefore, they are in ex∣treame mise••y, who might haue beene in happ••e•• ••state, if they had followed your aut••oritie, and cou••sell. You will say: What fruit reape I by this, a∣midst such darkenesse, and so great ••uines of the Common-wealth? Such is my griefe, I conf••sse, that it's scarce∣ly capable of consolat••on: so gr••a•• is the l••s••e of all things, and the desp••ire of their recouerie: yet, you s••ould m••tigate your so••row, ••i••h this com∣fort; that Caesar himselfe and with h••m al other Cittizens are possest, that there

remaines no other light of sanctitie, prudence, and repu••ation, but your per∣son. These reasons, may afford you, wonderfull relaxa••ion. Concerning your being farre off from your friends, you ought the easelier to support these troubles; being at one instant likewise, far remou'd from many, and grieuous molestations: of which I would write somewhat to you, but that I will not in writing certifie you of things, which, in that you see them not, I iudge you lesse vnhappie, then our selues, that daily be∣hold them. Hitherto me thinkes, I haue vsed all the arguments of cons••lation, that the loue I beare you could put into my minde, to ease the burden of your aggreeuances: other comforts remaine within your owne breast, the which I know to be great; yea, greater then a∣ny that can be ••ound: and I haue euery day, a feeling ther••of in my selfe, with so great benefit of minde, that me∣thinkes, I enioy a safetie th••reby. But I well remember, that you from your infancie, were studioushe addict∣ted to all lea••ning, and especiallie, to Philosophie; which in prosperitie yeeldes vs profit, and contentment; and now being in aduersitie, wee haue no other comf••rt but it. I will not bee arrogant, nor prescribe vnto you, who are endued with so great learning, and so noble a soule, the studie of these

Arts, which you euer affect••d from your youngest yeares. Thus much on∣ly I wi••l say vnto you, (and I hope you will commend me for it) that I, seeing how the estimation of my Art is de∣clin'd, I meane of eloquence, I haue appl••ed all my endeauours to th•• studie of Philosophie. And because you see, that your Art also, though it bee excel∣lent and singular, is notwithstanding almost as lightly valued, as ours: I need not labour to put you in minde; that in so boisterouse a storm you retire your selfe also in••o the same Port; be∣ing perswaded, that alread••e, you are thither withdrawne: for it is such re∣fuge, that though ••t cannot restore our publike los••e, yet will it be ve••ie avai∣lable, in razing out the memoriall thereof. Your ••onne S••ruius is a won∣derfull proficient in all the l••b••r••ll Artes, and principallie in thi••, wherein, as I write, my repose consis••eth. I wish him so well, that besides your owne, no mans loue can exceed m••ne towards him. Wherein he returnes me iust ex∣change. For he lou••s, and honors me, with an opinion, (as may easily be dis∣cerned) tha•• heerein hee performe••h, what your owne heart desireth. ••are∣well.